Reciprocating bed motion for printing presses



W. M. KELLY Sept. 30; 1 930.

RECIPROCATING BED MOTION FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed May 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l llHlli Ill Hlllllllllllllllllilllll! w. M. KELLY Sept. 30, 1930.

Filed May 4., 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I are frequently driven from a common source Patented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLIAM m. KELLY, or weswmm, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro AMERICAN 'rvrn FOUNDERS COMPANY, or JERSEY our, NEw anasnv, a coaronarron or NEW JERSEY RECIPROCATING BED MOTION FOR ZEBINTING PBESSES Application filed May 4, 1929. Serial No. 860,584.

The present invention relates to gearing and is more particularly concerned with that type of gearing which is used to reciprocate the bed of a printing press.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of gearing which is compact and easil handled, assembled and replaced and in w ich lost motion and backlash is reduced to a minimum.

The reciprocating beds of printing presses of motive power through two'distinct trains of gearing, one train serving to reciprocate the bed at a uniform rate of speed through the major central-portion of the stroke, and the other train operating to gradually retard, stop and reverse the motion of'the bed at each end of the stroke in order to avoid abrupt reversal and consequent shock to the bed frame and the driving gearing. This gearing isnecessarily somewhat complicated and bulky and ordinarily occupies considera ble spaceon either side of the bed and beneath the same, and unnecessarily increases the lateral dimension of 'the space required for installation andthe difliculty of providing proper support for the heavy and rapidly moving parts of the press.

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to materially reduce the overall width of the driving gearing beneath and laterally of the bed, and to so arrange the component parts of the gearing as to evenly distribute the weight of the moving parts on the supporting frame. a

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a direct uniform drive for the bed in the direction of execution of the printing stroke to eliminate backlash and irregularity of motion and the resulting slurring of the printed sheet.

It is found that the use of upwardly facing racks in gearing ofthis character is undesirable, since the accumulation of paper and other material falling from the moving parts of the press on the exposed rack causes jamming of the fore a further object of this invenion to progearing and consequent breakage and delay in operation. It is thereor of any similar toothed non-rotating parts, is avoided. 4

A further object of the invention is the provision ofa novel form of alternating rotary gearing which is featured by lightness, compactness and simplicity of construc- .tion.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a preferred form of the gearing which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention;

1 Figure 2 is an end View of the gearing shown in Figure 1 with parts of the supporting frame removed to simplify the illustration- Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and V Figure 4 is a sectionon the line 4-4 of 'lhe invention is shown for the purpose of illustration in connection with a printingpress of the two revolution type having the usual impression cylinder 10 and the reciprocating bed'12, the specific construction of these elements forming no part of the present invention, which may be applied to the operation of presses of other types and to various other uses. 1 A conventional feed board 13 and delive mechanism 14 for the supply and remove of sheets to and from the press is shown in Fig. 2, and it will be understood i that the cylinder is provided with the usual I gripper and stripping devices, although the structural detail of these devices-is immaturn mounted on and bolted to or otherwise secured to the spaced supports 14 and 15. For convenience in illustration, the manner of supporting the bed 12 is" not illustrated herehe cylinder 10 is journalled in a con- .dicated generally at 18 and 19 which are in I central girth under the hne of impression.

The gearing for reciprocating the bed is preferably driven from a common source of motive power associated with the pionion 16.

, This pinion meshes with a gear 17 which is gears, and

in turn connected for rotation with the gear 20 throu h a shaft 23. The gearin so far describe is conventional and may 0 viously be modified as desired.

The main drive of the machine which effects the reciprocation of the bed throu h the central major portion of the stroke wil now be described. As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, this drive comprises the element 21 which is provided with an annular ex-. ternally toothed portion 22 in mesh with the car 20 and ada ted to be driven thereby.

he element 21 is carried by and keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 25 which extends transversely across the frame of the press and is journalled in the spaced supports 14 and 15 on either side thereof for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

As pointed out above, one feature of the present invention is the revision of gearing aving a minimum wi th laterally of the press, and in the preferred construction, a pair of segmental internally toothed portions 27 and 28 are provided on the member 21, these toothed portions being disposed within the externally toothed portion 22 and being spaced axially of the shaft A for movement in adjacent planes perpendicular to the shaft. These toothed ortions are preferably formed separately an bolted to t e interior of the member 21 for ease in manufacture, assembly and replacement, although it is obvious that the teeth may be formed directly in the member 21 if desired. Agear 30 mounted on and secured to shaft 32 is positioned to engage and mesh with the internal toothed portion 27 and a'gear 33 secured to the shaft 34, and spaced amally of the gear; 30, is adapted to mesh with the internally toothed portion 28. As

will be apparent from the drawingathe rela-,

tive circumferential position of toothed ortions 27' and 28 and of the gears 30 an 33, and the length of the toothed portions is such that the gears 30 and 33, arevalternatelyjandconsecutively engaged by l the segmental;

rivet e toothed portions to gears alternate ly in o I posite directions. The length of the toothe portions 27 and 2 8-b such that there is a distinct hiatus in the driving action be tween the iods-of'drivlng' the respective 83 s interval permits the reversing mechanism for slowing, stopping and accelerating the bed. to come into play, the Iction of this mechanism beinghereinafter described.

Shaft: 82 and More extended transversely present construction b of the bed and are provided, preferabl adjacent the central portion of the bed, wit a pair of intermeshin gears 37 and 38, which are keyed or otherwise secured respectively to the shafts 32 and 34. It will be seen that by reason of this connection between the s afts, the gear 37 will bedriven alternately in op osite directions bythe successive action 0 the segmental toothed portions 27 and 28 on the member 21. I i

The reciprocation of the bed is obtained by the. I'OVlSlOD. of a rack 40 extending longitudina y thereof and secured thereto, this rack being so disposed as to constantly mesh with the gear 37.

It will be seen that the width of the gearing required in this construction is only slightly greater than the total width of the two gear faces of the gears 30 and 33 so that a compact reversing gearing having a minimum of overhang outside of the bed frame is rovided, and the wear on the bearings which support this gearing is thereby terially reduced. it will also be observed thatthe member 21 may be rotated in such direction as to drive the bed directly through the shaft 32 during the execution of the printing stroke, the return stroke being executed through the shaft 34 and intermediate gear 33', thus reducing the backlash and lost motion to a minimum and eliminating slurs in the printing, this arrangement constituting an important feature of the p sent invention.

It is customary in resses of the two revolution' type to provi e for the elevation of the cylinder during the reverse idle stroke of the bed. The precise construction of this elevating mechamsm forms no part of the present invention and is therefore not illustrated, but provision is made for driving the cylinder in a simple and direct -manner and for allowing continuous and uniform rotation of the printing cylinder regardless of the position which it occupies. This function may be effectively rformed in the t e provision at a gear 4 5v suitably journa ed on the casting l9 and connected for rotation with the cylinder 10 .by a coupling permittin lateral displace- -ment of the cylinder. 5 Am lustratcd in "ldig 2, this coupling maytake the form of a pm 4?, .carryinga block 48, mounted on the cylinder 1.0,ancba'n arm 49 provided with a slot 50 and carried by the gear 45 theblockslidin in theialot to permit dispiacement of the cylinder. By means 'ofthis-construction, the cylinder may be continuously driven direct 1y from the toothed member 21 and a-unifor'mrate of rotation of" the. cylinder is thereby The direct drive for the cylinder insured.

i fi

its

thus eliminates'bhclrlash and other inaccuracies existi in'the connections between these ements: It will be noted that thediameter of themember- 21 inconsiderprovided on the gear. 17.

er. 'stitutes a form of the conventional' Scotch ably greater than the diameter of the gear which is driven thereby, and the effect of the relative sizes of these gears in further reducing backlash will be readily understood.

As pointed out hereinbefore, it is essenrial to provide a reversing mechanismfor the bed, operative at each end of the stroke, the parts of which are so constructed and arranged as to avoid the accumulation of paper and other material in the toothed portions of the mechanism, and consequent injury to the press. The preferred form of this reversing mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which a pin carrying a block 61 is A cross head 64: having a slot 65 disposed transversely thereof is slidably supported in any suitable man- It will be seen that this mechanism conyoke, and results in imparting substantially harmonic reciprocation to the cross head 64.

A pair of toothed racks 68 and 69, which are secured to the under side of the bed and are preferably removable therefrom and adjustable lengthwise of the bed, are adapted for engagement at each end of the bed stroke with an element 71 havin .a segmental the bed is supported, in the manner disclosed in the prior patent to Kelly 1,651,744,granted December 6, 1927. This mechanism is omitted from the present disclosure for the sake of clearness. For this purpose the shaft 32 extendstransversely of the bed from the driving side, where it is journalled in the support 15 to a point on the further side of the central portion of the bed. It is therefore necessary to provide for the oscillation of the element 71 without interference by the shaft 32, which may be conveniently arranged by providing forkedarms 78 and 79 on the element 71, embracing the shaft 32, and by removably securing the toothed segment 7 3 across the fork ends. This construction not only has the advantageof extreme simplicity and compactness, but also provides for ready assembly, removal and replacement of the segment 73. An arm 81 is secured to or formed integrally with the member 71 and extends below the axis of the bearing support 7 72 so that this member in effect constitutes a two armed lever. A. link or pitman 83, pivot ally connected at its ends to the cross head 64 the member 71 for imparting substantially harmonic reciprocation to the latter.-

The general operation of the device will be obvious from the foregoing description and from the drawings. The central major portion of the stroke of the bed is effected through the train of gears 16, 17, 20, 22, and through either of the trains 27, 30, 37 and 40, or 28, 33, 38, 37 and 40, to drive the bed uniformly in opposite directions. The reversal of the bed atthe ends of the stroke is effected throu h the gear 17, cross head 64-, link 83, lever 71, segment 73 andeither of the racks 68 or 69, the last mentioned train serving to receive the bed at its maximum speed, gradually retard and stop the bed and to gradually accelerate the bed in the reverse direction.

As pointed out above, the shaft 25 extends transversely across the frame and through the spaced supports 14 and 15, one end of the shaft carrying the member 21, and the other end thereof carrying the cam 85. This cam serves to oscillate a lever 86 pivoted at 87 to the frame and connected at its opposite end 88 to a suitable mechanism for operating the conventional grippers. It is extremely important to eliminate backlash and lost motion in the connection between the driving mechanism for the bed and cylinder and the gripper operating mechanism, and it will be seen that the desiredresult is accomplished in the present instance by directly connecting the main driving element of the bed motion with the gripper operating cam.

It will be ap afent from the above description that t e present construction offers decided advantages in compactness and simplicity, and while the invention is preferably constructed in "accordance with the accompanying drawings, various changes and substitutions may be effected therein as fall within the spirit and scope of the 11p)- pended claims. It will furthermore be 0 vious that the gearing disclosed herein is adapted for other uses and will perform other functions than those herein enumerated, and is not confined to use with the two revolution press which has been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

i -1. In gearing, the combination with a driving gear, of a rotatable element having external'teeth in mesh with said driving gear and having two segmental internally toothed portions acting in different planes spaced axially of the element, a driven gear, a gear rotatable with said driven gear and adapted to be engaged by one of said toothed portions,

a gear adapted to mesh with the other of said toothed portions, and means for driving said driven gear -from said last mentioned gear in a direction opposite thereto, the said toothed portions and the gears meshing therewith being so disposed that not more than one of said toothed portions is in engagement with the corresponding gear at any given time, whereby the driven gear may be rotated in alternately opposite directions on rotation of said driving gear in one direction.

2. In gearing, the combination with a driving gear, of a rotatable element having external teeth in mesh with said driving gear and having two segmental internally toothed por tions acting in difierent planes spaced axially of the element, a driven gear, a gear rotatable with said driven gear and adapted to be engaged by one of said toothed portions an intermediate gear meshing with said driven gear, and a gear rotating with said interme diate gear and adpted to mesh with the other of said toothed portions, the said toothed portions and 'the gears meshing therewith being so disposed that not more than one of said toothedportions is in engagement with the corresponding gear at any given time, whereby the driven gear may be rotated in alternately opposite directions on rotation of said driving gear in one direc tion.

3. In a printing press having an impression cylinder and a reeiprocating bed adapted to execute a forward printing stroke and a reverse idle stroke, the combination with a toothed rack secured to said bed, of means for driving said rack and bed in alternately opposite directions, said means including a gear meshing with said rack, an interme diate gear meshing with said first mentioned gear, a pair of gears secured for rotation with said first mentioned gear and said interme-- diate gear respectively, a pair of toothed segments each of which is adapted to mesh with one gear of said pair of gears and positioned for consecutive engagement therewith, and means for driving said toothed segments in the same direction for imparting the forward printing stroke to said bed directly through said first mentioned gear, and for imparting the reverse idle stroke to said bed through said intermediate gear.

a. in a printing press having an impression cylinder and a reciprocating bed adapted to execute a forward printing stroke and a reverse idle stroke, the combination with a toothed rack secured to said bed, of means for driving said rack and bed in alternately opposite directions, said means including a gear meshing with said rack, an intermediate gear meshing with said first mentioned gear, a pair of gears secured for rotation with said first mentioned gear and said intermediate gear respectively, a rotatable driving element having a pair of se ental testbed portions each of which is a apted to engage and drive one of said pair ofgears, the periods of drivingengagement being consecutive, and means for rotating said driving eiement in a dlrection to impart the forward printing stroke to said bed directly through said first mentioned gear, and to impart the reverse idle stroke to said bed through said intermediate gear.

5. In a printing press having an impression cylinder and a reciprocating'bed adapted to execute a forward printing stroke and a reverse idle stroke, the combination with a toothed rack secured to said bed, of means for driving said rack and bed in alternately opposite directions, said means including a gear meshing with said rack,-an intermediate gear meshing with said first mentioned ear, a pair of gears secured for rotation wit said first mentioned gear and said intermediate gear respectivel a rotatable driving element having a pair 0 segmental internally toothed portions positioned to consecutively engage and drive a corresponding gear of said pair of gears and having an externally toothed portion encircling said internally toothed portions, and a gear meshing with said externally toothed portion for driving the latter in a direction to impart the forward printing stroke to said bed directly through said first mentioned gear, and to impart the re verse idle stroke to said bedthrough said intermediate gear.

6. in a reciprocating bed motion, the combination with a bed, of means for reciprocatin g said bed through the central portion of the stroke thereoiin either direction, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the bed at one end of the stroke thereof, said last mentioned means comprising a toothed rack carried by said bed, a lever oi"- the first class having a segmental toothed portion on one arm thereof adapted to mesh with said rack, and mechanism associated with the other arm for imparting substantially harmonic reciprocation thereto.

Z. In a reciprocating bed motion, the combination with a bed, of means for reciproeating said bed through the central portion of the stroke thereof in either direction, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the bed at one end of the stroke thereof, said last mentioned means comprising a toothed rack carried by said bed, a lever of the first class having a segmental toothed portion on one arm thereof adapted to mesh with said rack, and mechanism associated with the other arm for imparting substantially harmonic reciprocation thereto, said mechanism including a Scotch yoke, and a pitman connecting said yoke and said other arm.

8. In a reciprocating bed motion, the combination with a bed, of means for reciprocating said bed through the central portion of the stroke thereof'in either direction, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the bed at both ends of the stroke thereof, said last mentioned means comprising rack teeth carried by said bed, a mem- Hill [ill

ber provided with a segmental toothed portion adapted to mesh with said rack teeth, a continuously rotatin crank, a crosshead mounted for reciprocation in a straight line gear is mounted extending transversely ofthe frame. and an oscillating arm mounted below the transversely extending shaft and provided with a segmental toothed portion meshing with the other of the said racks for reversing the direction of movement of the bed at the end of the stroke, said arm being slotted to receive the shaft. 1

10. In a printing press havingan impres sion cylinder and reciprocating bed, the combination with a frame including spaced supports on which the cylinder isjournalled at each end thereof. of a pair of racks secured beneath said bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a gear meshing with one of said racks for reciprocating said bed through the central portion of the stroke. a shaft on which said gear is mounted extending transversely of the frame, a forked oscillating arm mounted beneath and embracing the transversely extending shaft, and a toothed segment removably secured across thefork ends of the arm and above the shaft for engaging the other of the said racks to reverse the direction of motion of the bed at the end of the stroke.

11. In a printing press having an impression cylinder, a reciprocating bed, and cam operated gripper mechanism, the combination with a frame including spaced supports on which the cylinder-is journaled at each end thereof, of a shaft extending transversely across the frame and journaled adjacent each end thereof in the spaced supports, a gear secured on one end ofsaid shaft outside of the frame and operatively connected with said cylinder to drive the latter, and a gripper operating cam secured to the opposite end of the shaft outside of the frame.

12. In a printing press having an impression-cylinder, a reciprocating bed. and cam operated gripper mechanism, thecombinw,

tion with a frame including spaced supports on which the cylinder is journaled at each end thereof, of a shaft extending transversely across the frame and journaled adjacent each end thereof in the spaced supports, a gear secured on one end of said shaft outside of the frame and operatively connected with said cylinder to drive the latter,a grip or operating cam secured to the opposite en of the shaft outside of the frame, internally toothed segmental gears secured to said first mentioned gear, and means driven by said segmental gears for driving the bed in alternately opposite directions.

13. In a printing presshaving an impress sion cylinder, a reciprocating bed, and cam operated gripper mechanism, the combina tion with a frame including spaced supports on which the cylinder is journale d at each end thereof, of a shaft extendin transversely across the frame and journale adjacent each end thereof in the spaced supports, a gear secured on one end of said shaft outside of the frame, a second gear journaled on the frame and meshing with said first mentioned gear,

a coupling between said second gear and said cvlinder permitting lateral displacement of the latter. and a gripper operating cam secured to the opposite end of the shaft outside of the frame.

14:. In a reciprocating bed motion, thecombination with a bed having a toothed rack portion, of a driving gear, a rotatable'element;

having external teeth in mesh with said driving gear and having two segmental internally toothed portions acting in difierent planes spaced axially of the element,- a driven gear adapted to mesh with said rack, a gear rotatable with said driven gear and adapted to be engaged by one of said too hed portions, :1 gear adapted to mesh with the other of said toothed portions, and means for driving said driven gear from said last mentioned gear in a direction opposite thereto, the said toothed portions and the gears meshing therewith being so disposed that each of said toothed poi--- tions is brought alternately into engagement with the corresponding gear, whereby the driven gear may be rotated in alternately op posite directions on rotation of said driving gear inone direction to drive the bed in alternately opposite directions, and mechanism for reversing the-direction of movement of the bed at each end of the stroke thereof, said mechanism comprising a pair of toothed rack sections secured to the bed at spaced points, a gear segment adapted to mesh alternately with said rack sections, and means for reciprocating said gear segment.

15. In a reciprocating bed motion, the combination with a bed having a toothed rack portion, of a driving gear. a rotatable element having external teeth in mesh with said driving gear and having two segmental internally toothed portions acting in different planes spaced axially of the element, a driven gear adapted to mesh with said rack, a gear rotatable with said driven gear and adapted to be engaged by one of said toothed portions, a

gear adapted to mesh with the other of said toothed portions, and means for driving said drr ven gear from sald last mentioned gear in a direction opposite thereto, the said toothed faces, whereby the overhang of the shafts portions and the gears meshing therewith being so disposed that each of said toothed portions is brought alternately into engagement with the corresponding gear, whereby the driven gear may be rotated in alternately and conse mized.

In testimon signature.

opposite directions on rotation of said driving gear in one direction to drive the bed in alternately opposite directions, and mechanlszn for reversing the direction of movement of the bed at each end of the stroire thereof.

it. i In a reciprocating bed motion, the combination with a bed, of gearing for driving said bed in alternately opposite directions through the major portion of the stroke thereof, a rotatable element provided with an annular toothed portion and with e pair of segmental toothed portions for actuating said gearing, mechanism for reversing the direction of movement'of the bed at the ends of the stroke, a ginion meshing with the said annular toothed portion of said rotatable element, and .a crank pin carried by the said pinion and operatively connected to said reversing mechanism for actuating the latter.

1?. lln gearing, the combination with a retatahle element having'two segmental internally toothed portions acting in difi'erent planes spaced axially or" the element, a driven gear, a gear rotatable with said driven gear and adapted to be engaged by one of said toothed portions, a gear adapted to mesh with the other ofrsaid toothed portions, and means tor driving said driven gear from said last mentioned gear in a direction opposite thereto, the said toothed portions and the gears meshing therewith being so disposed that not more than one of said toothed portions is in engagement with the corresponding gear at any given time, wh ereby thedriven gear may berotated in alternately opposite directions on rotation of said driving gear in one direction.

18. in a printing germs, the combination with reciprocating iced, of a frame including side inenibern for sapportin said bed, hearings in one of: said side more are, a pair oirotatoble shafts extending through said bearings,.means carried toy said shafts and located said frame for driving-the bed, and gearing outside of the,,1frame for driving said shafts, said gearing including a pair of axially spaced gears,-one of which ismounted on each shaft, 9. member journaled in said side member having a pair of segmental internally toothed portions adapted to mesh alternately with said gears and having an' externally toothed portion encircling said internally toothed portions, and a gear meshing with the externally toothed portion of said member to drive the latter in one direction, the total width of the gearing externally of the. bed trams being only slightly greater than the width of two gear quent Wear on the bearings is miniy whereof I hereunto afiix my WILLIAM M. KELLY. 

